For all the bad publicity it has received over years, there are still some proponents-at least 3 percent of the U student body-who believe greek life is a positive experience.
That 3 percent makes up the seven fraternities and seven sororities on the U’s Greek Row.
In numbers, there are between 700 and 800 participants in the greek system, and more are always welcome, according to Stacey Carroll, chairwoman of the Panhellenic Council, which is made of up of all the sororities on campus.
Recruitment week for most of the sororities and fraternities runs from Aug. 25-29.
“The best way to get involved is to come,” Carroll said.
Greeks have, however, come under a lot of fire in recent years at the U, including annual spats with neighbors.
Recently, fraternity Kappa Sigma lost its charter after it was caught holding a party with underage drinking, along with a long list of previous infractions.
However, many maintain that the positive aspects of greek life outweigh the negative specific incidents.
Greek life includes fund raising, philanthropies, social events, exchanges and scholarship opportunities.
Carroll-who is in her third year at the U-says she waited until last year to join and now wishes she had joined before.
“Greek life, in general, has definitely enriched my college experience,” she said.
Before, boredom was a usual feeling around a mainly commuter campus.
Carroll says she’s made friends and contacts that she says will be advantageous in the future.
“It’s been a great way to expand personally, careerwise [and] academically,” she said.
Anyone interested in joining a fraternity or sorority can e-mail [email protected] for more information before the recruitment week.